Consider Natural Resources Elements for PACT Charter School Site Plan, Preliminary Plat and Final Plat (Project No. 22-107); Case of JB Vang on Behalf of PACT Charter School

The City has received an application from JB Vang Partners (the "Applicant"), on behalf of PACT Charter School, for review of a Site Plan, Preliminary Plat, and Final Plat related to a proposed new, second school campus to be located at 7633 161st Avenue NW (the "Subject Property"). The Subject Property is presently owned by The Church of Saint Katharine Drexel (the "Property Owner"). As the Environmental Policy Board (EPB) will recall, the City previously reviewed a Sketch Plan, along with a requested Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment, related to this same project.  The City Council ultimately approved the Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment contingent upon approval of the Preliminary Plat. 

Another Public Hearing will be conducted by the Planning Commission on May 26, 2022.  Staff attempted to notify property owners within 700 feet of the Subject Property, as reflected in the Anoka County Property Records, of this current round of applications for Site Plan, Preliminary Plat, Final Plat, and a Variance (to a side yard setback) of the Public Hearing to be held by the Planning Commission on May 26, 2022. A notice of the Public Hearing (to be held by the Planning Commission) was also published in the Anoka County UnionHerald, the City's official newspaper.

Background Information
The Subject Property is approximately thirty-three (33) acres in size and is currently zoned R-1 Residential (MUSA) - 80 and guided as Low Density Residential (again, City Council approved a Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment, with contingencies, in March of this year.  Assuming the contingencies are met, approximately 18 acres of the Subject Property would be guided as Public/Institutional and zoned as Public/Quasi-Public). The Subject Property is at the northwest corner of Variolite Street and 161st Avenue and abuts Central Park to the west. Properties to the east (across Variolite Street) are zoned R-1 Residential (MUSA) - 80, range in size from about 0.31 acres to 1.46 acres, and are guided Low Density Residential. The properties to the north and south (across 161st Avenue) are zoned R-1 Rural Developing, range in size from about 1.1 acres up to about 2.57 acres, and are guided as Rural Developing in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The property to the west (Central Park) is about 37 acres in size, is zoned Public/Quasi-Public and is guided as Park.

The Plat would create a single, buildable lot (approximately 18 acres in size) and two outlots (approximately 8 acres and 6.5 acres). The eighteen (18) acre parcel would be for PACT Charter School to develop a new 6-12 grade campus. The two outlots would be reserved and retained by the Property Owner for the future home of a new church. 

Natural Resources Information
Wetlands and Floodplain: There do not appear to be any floodplain areas within the Subject Property. There is a wetland present in the northeastern corner of the Subject Property (the City's Wetlands Inventory identified this wetland as a Manage 3, or low functioning, wetland). The majority of the wetland is within the northern outlot and thus, protected from any building activity associated with the school.  Based on the Site Plan, there are no proposed impacts to this wetland and the required sixteen and a half foot (16.5') wetland setback is included in the plans.  The Applicant has submitted their Wetland Delineation application to the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization for review and consideration.

Natural Resources Inventory: The City's Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) does identify two (2) Moderate Quality natural plant communities on the Subject Property. The first is an Aspen Forest with Saturated Soils, which is in the northeast corner of the Subject Property (within the northern outlot).  There are no proposed impacts in this area. The second is an Oak Forest, which is along the eastern edge of what would be the school property. Per the Site Plan, there would be impacts to this natural plant community.  Trees within the wetland setback area would be preserved, but those beyond the 16.5 foot setback would be removed to accommodate a stormwater basin.  The wetland area, as well as all of the southern outlot, were identified as an Altered/Non-Native Plant Community in the NRI.

Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan
The Applicant has provided a Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan.  As this is being reviewed under the B-1 General Business District standards, at least thirty percent (30%) of significant tree Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) inches shall be preserved.  Per the Tree Preservation Summary, there are 8,713 DBH inches on the Subject Property but of those, 1,503 inches are exempt from the calculation (either dead or removed for stormwater management purposes).  Thus, at least 2,163 DBH inches are to be preserved to satisfy the 30% requirement.  The plans indicate that 1,276 inches (17.7%) will be preserved.  The plan also notes the two options outlined in City Code, which include reforestation (at 1.25 inches per 1 inch removed beyond the threshold) or restitution ($125 per 1 inch removed beyond the threshold), or some combination thereof.

If reforestation alone were used, a minimum of 444 trees, with a caliper of 2.5 inches, would need to be installed (equates to 1,110 new DBH inches).  If restitution alone were used, this would be the equivalent of $110,875.  The Applicant can choose either method or a combination of the two methods to satisfy the Tree Preservation standards in City Code.  While the requirements are outlined in the plan, there is no indication which method(s) will be used.

It is worth noting that there are some invasive species (Siberian Elm and Black Locust) included in the Tree Inventory, which could also be exempted from the removal calculation.  The Applicant should update the calculation summary to outline how many DBH inches are invasive species and these should be added to the Exempt Removals.  This will reduce the reforestation numbers, albeit likely only slightly. 

The bulk of the trees being preserved are between the proposed building and 161st Ave NW.  This should help retain some of the existing appearance as one travels 161st Ave and should also provide some screening of the school building for the residents on the south side of the street.  However, there may be additional tree loss in this area to accommodate a required ten (10) foot wide bituminous trail from Variolite over to Central Park (not currently shown in the plan set).

Revisions to the Tree Inventory and Preservation Plan are required.

Landscape Plan
A Landscape Plan has been prepared for the project.  Based on the linear footage of the perimeter, as well as the number of proposed parking stalls, 109 trees and 265 shrubs are required to satisfy the base landscape requirements.  Additionally, because there are existing residential homes to the north, bufferyard plantings are required (equivalent to an additional 30% of the required trees).  The plans show sixty (60) evergreen trees, almost twice the required number, positioned in three (3) rows along the northern portion of the property. 

The Applicant is proposing just over an acre of native grasses, which qualifies for a credit of one (1) tree for each 500 square feet of native landscape, with the credit not exceeding fifty percent (50%) of the required plantings (e.g. eligible for credit to reduce required plantings by 54 trees).  After applying the credit for the native landscape area, a total of fifty-five (55) trees would be required for base landscaping requirements.  The Landscape Plan includes a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees, as well as ornamental trees.  All species are either preferred or acceptable per the Ramsey Tree Book and meet the minimum required planting size.

As previously noted, due to the amount of tree removal, reforestation (or restitution) is necessary.  Based on a caliper size of 2.5 inches, a total of 444 new trees would be required.  The total required plantings (before factoring in credits) is 142 (based on linear footage of site perimeter, number of parking stalls, and bufferyard trees).  The total proposed installed trees is 164.  Thus, 280 additional trees, or $87,500 in restitution, or some combination thereof, is required.  There appears to be space to accommodate additional plantings on site.  Also, with Central Park being directly adjacent, there are even more opportunities for reforestation there.  

Revisions to the Landscape Plan are required.

Stormwater Management
Drainage plans have also been submitted.  Both the City (Engineering Department) and the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (LRRWMO) will review the stormwater management plan.  This information is being provided as a means to inform the general public that stormwater and drainage are being addressed and the basins can be seen on the attached Site Plan.

Lighting
The submittal also includes a photometric plan for both the school itself and the athletic field.  Both show that there will not be light spilling across property boundaries.  Furthermore, the athletic field lighting will include glare shields to assist in further reducing light trespass beyond the athletic field.
 

The Applicant is responsible for all costs associated with this request.

Motion to recommend approval of the Landscape and Tree Preservation Plans, contingent upon compliance with Staff review comments.